EPITOME OF PARLIAMENT.

Marlborough Express, Volume VII, Issue 421, 14 August 1872, Page 2

EPITOME OF PARLIAMENT.

Tuesday, August 6. In the House of Representatives, Several question relative to returns were answered by Ministers. In reply to Mr Swanston, the Premier intimated that it was not intended to comply with the recommendation of the Petitions Committee to introduce a Permissive Education Bill. The Speaker read Mr Cantrell’s ressignation of his seat for Caversham, and a new writ was ordered. The Tramways Bill was read a third time and passed. The Permanent Officers Salaries Bill was, after some’debate, read a second time. The Greymouth Harbor Works Validation Bill was passed through committee. The Licensing Bill was considered in committee. Clauses 1 to 31 inclusive were postponed on a division by 32 t 0,31. Clause 32 the first of the prohibitory or permissive clauses; was rejected on a division of 38 to 24. After some further debate, progress was reported, and leave obtained to sit again. The following bills were read a second time— Wellington City Reserves Bill, Canterbury Waste Lands Bill. The debate on the second reading of the Drainage Bill was anjourned. The debates on Mr Gillies’ motion, calling on the Government to introduce a bill to define the functions of Provincial Councils, was resumed by Mr Sheeman, and, after a few remarks from Mr Gisbourne and Mr Wood, Mr Gillies replied, and obtained leave to withdraw the motion. * A debate took place on the motion for going into committee on the Marriage with a Deceased Wife’s Sister Bill, which was carried by 35 to 23, In committee, after a long discussion, pro*

gress was reported and leave obtained to sit again.

The Taranaki Educations Reserves Bill was considered in committee.

The Grey mouth - Harbor Validation Bill was passed through its remaining stages. The Otago Dock Trust Debt Bill was read a seeond time.

The Schafer Pension Bill was introduced and read a first time. %

The Wellington City Reserves Bill was passed through committee, and the Highway Boards Empowering Bill was read a second time. The debate on Mr Collins’motion for the reduction of the export duty on gold was resumed by. Mr White, who spoke in favor of the motion ] Mr Luckie opposed the motion, and Mr Sheehan, Mr Tribe, and Mr O’Neill supported it. i Mr Vogel withdrew the amendment, which he had on a previous occasion moved, but he announced that the Government would still vote against the motion, in order that the responsibility of the reduction might be thrown on those who were effected by it. Captain Kenny and Mr Steward supported the motion, and on a division it was carried by 34 to 11. Wednesday, August 7. In the House of Representatives two private bills were read a first time.

In reply to questions, the Government stated the Tramway from Foxton to Palmerston would probably be completed by the 27th November, and that it was intended to continue the tramway between Stony Creek and Rangitikei. A return of penalties on the San Francisco mail contractor remitted by the Colonial Treasurer was ordex’ed on the motion of Mr Gillies.

Mr Curtis moved a resolution deprecating hasty changes in the boundaries of provinces, and affirming that all such changes should be made on some definite and permanent scheme of general application. Mr Harrison moved tbe previous question, and a debate ensued, in which Messrs Stafford, Collins, Macandrew, J. Shephard, Reid, andjjMr M’Gillivray, supported the motion ; while Messrs Tribe, Rhodes, T. L. Shephard, White, O’Connor, and Mr Pox, supported the amendment. On a division, the previous question was negatived by 37 to 29. The motion was then agreed to. Mr Reynolds moved his resolution in favor of the establishment of two provinces, one for each island. Sir D. Monro seconded the motion. The debate was adjourned on the motion of Mr Steward. Txjsday, August 8. In the House of Representatives the following new bills were introduced and read a first time;: Canterbury Province Boundaries Extension Bill (Mr Ingles) ; Nelson Waste Lands Amendment Bill (Mr Collins); Interest Bill (Mr Bathgate). Mr O’Neill moved a resolution in favour of giving an additional representative to the Thames district. After a debate the motion was negatived on a division of 41 to 21, and an amendment, moved by Mr Murray, to the effect that it was inexpedient to interfere with the representation of the colony, unless the whole question could be reconsidered and readjusted.

A recommendation from the Library Committee, in reference to enlarging the Library, was, on Mr Maoandrew’s motion, adopted on a division of 35 to 26.

The report of the New South Wales Goldfields Commission was ordered to be printed.

Mr Harrison’s motion in favour of the salaries of goldfields wardens being voted by the Assembly, was, after some debate, withdrawn. The Southland Waste Lands Act Amendment Bill was read a second time, as also the Wellington College Bill, Borough of Wanganui Borrowing Bill, and Schafer Pension Bill. The Resident Magistrates Act Amendment Bill and Otago Dock Trust Bill were passed through committee. The Taranaki Education Reserves Bill and Wellington City Reserves Bill were read a third time and passed. The debate on Mr Reynolds’ insular separation motion was resumed, and, after several members had spoken, was adjourned till Wednesday next. The Highway Boards Empowering Act Amendment Bill went into committee, but after considerable discussion the bill was reported, without anything having been done, leave being given to sit again.